Must-Read Books
May 2023
Adult Fiction
Adelaide
by Genevieve Wheeler

A young American living in London with great friends and strong ambitions falls in love with a charming Englishman who is not as invested in the relationship as she is, resulting in a mental health crisis.
The collected regrets of Clover
by Mikki Brammer

Feeling a stronger connection with the dying than to the living, Clover, a death doula in NYC, has no life of her own until the final wishes of a feisty old woman sends her across the country to uncover a forgotten love story and perhaps, her own happy ending.
The making of another major motion picture masterpiece
by Tom Hanks

The Academy Award-winning actor and bestselling author presents a thought-provoking novel about the making of a star-studded, multimillion-dollar superhero action film based on a series of comic books that depict the changes in America and American culture since WWII.
A most intriguing lady : a novel
by Sarah Ferguson

Deliberately cultivating a mousey persona to fly under society's radar, Lady Mary Montagu Douglas Scott teams up with Colonel Walter Trefusis to solve crimes in Victorian London, in the new novel by the Duchess of York.
The Postcard
by Anne Berest

Fifteen years after the arrival of an anonymous postcard with the names of her maternal great-grandparents and their children—all killed at Auschwitz—Anne Berest is moved to discover who sent it and why and embarks on a journey to learn the fate of the Rabinovitch family.
Small mercies : a novel
by Dennis Lehane

In 1974 Boston, as a heatwave blankets the city, Mary Pat Fennessey, in a desperate search for her missing daughter, asks questions that bother Marty Butler, chieftain of the Irish mob, who doesn't take kindly to anyone who threatens his business.
Wish me home : a novel
by Kay Bratt

A hungry, stray dog is the last thing Cara Butter needs. Stranded in Georgia with only her backpack and a few dwindling dollars, she already has too much baggage. Like her twin sister, Hana, who has broken Cara's heart one too many times. After a lifetime of family troubles, and bouncing from one foster home to another, Cara decides to leave it all behind and strike out alone--on foot. Cara sets off to Florida to see the home of her literary hero, Ernest Hemingway, accompanied only by Hemi, the stray dog who proves to be the perfect travel companion. But the harrowing trip takes unexpected turns as strangers become friends who make her question everything, and Cara finds that as the journey unfolds, so does her life--in ways she could never imagine.
Atalanta
by Jennifer Saint

Princess Atlanta, left to die by her parents who wanted a son, is raised by a mother bear under the protection of the goddess Artemis, in the new novel by the best-selling author of Elektra.
Camp Zero
by Michelle Min Sterling

In a world where climate change has rendered much of the Earth uninhabitable, the northern settlement of Camp Zero welcomes two new arrivals -- sex worker and spy "Rose" and privileged professor Grant -- whose paths will intersect in surprising ways. For fans of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale or Catherine Hernandez's Crosshairs.
Adult Nonfiction
A brutal reckoning : Andrew Jackson, the Creek Indians, and the epic war for the American South
by Peter Cozzens

The acclaimed historian chronicles the brutal Creek War of 1813-1814, where Andrew Jackson shattered Native American control of the Deep South which led to the infamous Trail of Tears and set the stage for the Civil War.
Knowing what we know : the transmission of knowledge, from ancient wisdom to modern magic
by Simon Winchester

Examining such disciplines as education, journalist, encyclopedia creation, museum curation, photography and broadcasting, an award-winning writer explores how humans have attained, stored and disseminated knowledge and how continues to change our lives and our minds.
Ghosts of the Orphanage : A Story of Mysterious Deaths, a Conspiracy of Silence, and a Search for Justice
by Christine Kenneally

An award-winning journalist and author exposes the horrible events that took place in twentieth-century orphanages using the stories of survivors who expose the violence, abuse, trauma and deaths that were commonplace and their quests for justice.
The longest race : inside the secret world of abuse, doping, and deception on Nike's elite running team
by Kara Goucher

In this unforgettable story and call to action, an Olympic runner and crusader reveals her experience living through and speaking out about her coach's culture of abuse and how Nike stood by him for years, proving itself capable of shockingly misogynistic corporate practices.
Fatherland : a memoir of war, conscience, and family secrets
by Burkhard Bilger

A New Yorker staff writer tells the story of his nearly ten-year quest to uncover the truth about his grandfather, a Nazi party chief, and the questions it raises about reckoning with the pasts of our families.
You could make this place beautiful : a memoir
by Maggie Smith

The award-winning poet explores the disintegration of her marriage and her renewed commitment to herself, interweaving snapshots of a life with meditations on secrets, anger, forgiveness and narrative itself and revealing how, in the aftermath of loss, we can discover our power and make something beautiful.
Youth Fiction
How to Write a Poem
by Kwame Alexander and Deanna Nikaido; illustrated by Melissa Sweet

The prompt: "Begin with a question, like an acorn waiting for spring." This advice kicks off a metaphor-rich journey in which poets Alexander and Nikaido encourage kids to try poetry-writing by delving into their observations and their imaginations.
 
The call to action: "Now, show us what you've found."
 
Art alert: Melissa Sweet's textured collage illustrations, rendered in paint, paper, and found objects, underscore the concepts of engaging the senses and connecting ideas.
Stars and Smoke
by Marie Lu

What it is: a suspenseful, romantic adventure pairing Winter Young, a Chinese American pop star, with Sydney Cossette, a 19-year-old spy hiding her fatal lung condition.
 
What happens: To gather intelligence on a notorious crime boss, Winter performs at a private party while Sydney plays bodyguard. As their mission unfolds, Winter and Sydney's grudging respect turns into something deeper.
 
Author alert: Fans of author Marie Lu's action-packed Skyhunter, Legend, and Warcross series will enjoy this glamorous and thrilling series opener.
Big Tree
by Brian Selznick

What it's about: Sycamore seed siblings Louise and Merwin venture across a danger-filled prehistoric world in search of their destiny -- and a safe place to grow.
 
How it's told: through a combination of dramatic written sections and hyper-detailed pencil drawings, offering an up-close look at the little seeds as well as a cosmic view that will make you think about your own place in time and space.
Contact your librarian for more great books!
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